good yesterday

Yesterday he called me up all excited "Ms. Wainwright? Don't you think that is a wonderful name?" along with some kind of information I wasn't expecting, "hey go down to the library or the clerk's office, you have to read that section of the code, and I have it all arranged, it's only $180, I already paid for it...you could probably just say you read the code, it's a fine name, aren't you excited you'll have it back?" which took me a while to realize he was talking about getting my name changed back. I know we've both been thinking for some time I should do it because well, I've found my married name came with, um, certain pre-formed assumptions that go with it. Such as the small-ish business world in this town is concerned. Which, for a while now has concerned me enough that I felt perhaps I could get further around here if I weren't still hanging on to that, er, name. Of course J. took up that torch and ran with it.

So then I got some forms and need a certified copy of my birth certificate, and it isn't as complicated as I always assumed, because for some reason I was under the impression I'd need an attorney. Well we have a great attorney, but I guess I don't need one to change back my name.

Then I was told get ready we're getting out of town quick, it's a surprise! (I honestly thought for sure we were headed to Omaha to visit one of J's friends who is in from California.) We stopped by Palmer's because they do chocolate covered strawberries on Fridays. Just delicious. We grabbed the last three boxes. (And we ran into a guy J. went to high school with, here for the reunion. He was very nice, introduced us to his kids and encouraged J. to attend the reunion functions...) Oh and some truffles. Because.

And then we headed north! We rode up to Valiant Vineyards and ate some of our strawberries while we drove. After all, we got three boxes, which was more than enough to share with the wine tasting ladies. But I learned that strawberries are a little juicy to eat while driving. We tasted the wild grape port, which was amazing with the chocolate, the Courage, the Ameritage 04 & 05, Jungfraulich, Buck Naked (honey!) and the Sturgis collectible Full Throttle. I think. It was some sort of Sturgis wine. The wine tasting lady said they were so very incredibly busy during the Sturgis rallies. I guess bikers love wine too.

After that we spent some time driving around on farm roads and also we stood on the bank of the river. Because we love the river. I think it is much more beautiful in the more natural state. The parts of it I have seen in South Dakota are very natural and it seems much as it did a gazillion years ago. In Iowa and Nebraska the river has been artificially enhanced for the purpose of encouraging barge traffic. According to a park biologist I met in Ponca, there are maybe two barges that go by a year? So, even without taking that into account, honestly I have to say I prefer the natural state of the river.

We got home in time to go to 'Nards and pick up a metal threaded dowel. We've been thinking about how to display the orange airport windsock at J's dad's headstone out at the cemetery. Finally, since his sisters still have some flowers out there right now, we decided I wouldn't do an arrangement to stick the windsock in the vase. He screwed the metal threaded dowel into the 1/2 inch PVC tube and then sunk it down into the ground by the right hand corner of the headstone. I have spent more time in cemeteries since Memorial day than I have in years.

Lucky for me that particular cemetery has a pond, with Runner Ducks like in Peter and the Wolf. (There are swans in there too and they have big black feet, but they have absolutely no character.) Oh how I love Runner Ducks!!! There was one I decided is mine, he kept walking around on the bridge over the duck pond. I named him Howard and we tried to corner him on the bridge but he jumped thru the rails into the water. Well last year I think I took pictures of runner ducks when I took the boys to the fair but now I can't find them.

So then we rented Big Fish because my friend Meredith has commissioned me to draw a circus elephant funeral.